The Renault 5 Alpine was the original hot-hatch.

Launched in 1976, it pre-dated the VW Golf GTI.

In the UK, the car was sold as the Renault 5 Gordini, the reason being that Chrysler Europe had retained the rights to the name ‘Alpine’ in the UK.

The 5 Alpine featured a 1,397cc OHV engine based on the Renault ‘Sierra’ pushrod engine, but with a crossflow cylinder head and hemispherical combustion chambers, developing 92 bhp.

Delivering the power was a five-speed gearbox, stiffened suspension with torsion bars all round.

As a nod to Renaults motorsport involvement in period, the 5 Alpine was finished with gold alloy wheels and strips, and fog lamps to the front.

In 1982 Renault decided to upgrade the naturally aspirated Alpine, and added a single Garrett T3 turbocharger, increasing the power output to 110 bhp.

Called the Renault 5 Alpine Turbo, road tests returned reports of a top speed of heady 112 mph, and 0 – 60 in 8.7 seconds, which was considered brisk in the early 80s.

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